Pictured: NRCS Soil Conservationist Garrett Duyck (left), and David Brewer examine a soil sample on the Emerson Dell farm near The Dalles, Oregon. Brewer focuses on improving soil health to increase water infiltration and retention on his farm.
Healthy soils are the foundation of productivity and climate resilience, as highlighted by USSA’s David Green and Maite Caballero in an article for Open Access Government. They explore the fundamentals of soil health, outlining key policies, programs and practices. They also outline the contrasting approaches taken by the EU and the United States, where partnership, collaboration and region-specific solutions are paramount.
Read David and Maite’s article and find out more about:
- The history of soil health in the United States, as highlighted by a DelicioUS! video, dating back to the Great Depression ‘Dust Bowl’ of the 1930s
- Conservation practices adopted by U.S. farmers to boost soil health, from cover crops to water management practices
- Partnerships with farmers aimed at advancing climate-smart agriculture and developing local solutions to soil conservation
- Programs and initiatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Natural Resources Conservation Service that prioritize soil conservation